Without instigating a war, I must address the following...
Microsoft is EXTENDING support for XP Home until into 2010, NOT phasing it out. It looks like XP will be around until Windows7 comes out. You can read about it here...I just read that Microsoft is phasing out Windows XP by or before 2009. But this is only for Windows XP Home Edition.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...t-laptops.html
Also, the reason to use a PC isn't just because you can't afford a Mac. Many people (myself included) are power users, and find both the Apple OS and hardware limiting. I find Apple hardware particularly frustrating, because much of it is lackluster and not upgradable. Yes, a closed system is stable, but no more stable than a well maintained Windows system. And before you say it, no, you do NOT have to spend any extra time maintaining your Windows system (the Apple "just works" argument).
OSX has a great "off the shelf" experience. And for many users it's the logical choice. But for more advanced users, system builders, and modders, Apple is a poor choice.
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